PMI-ACP Cost 2026: $435 Member, $495 Non-Member + Budget

Quick Answer: Recent 2026 cost guides report the PMI-ACP exam fee as $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members. PMI's public ACP page does not show the fee, so confirm the amount at checkout. You also need 21 hours of formal agile training, which training providers price at roughly $200 to $600 for self-paced courses and $800 to $2,500 for instructor-led courses. Typical all-in budgets run from about $745 for a lean route to $3,150 or more for a premium live route. Unlike the PMP, membership rarely saves money on the ACP alone: the member discount is about $60, while joining costs roughly $149 to $174.

PMI-ACP Cost at a Glance

Here is every line item in one place. The right-hand column tells you how reliable each number is, because PMI does not publish the ACP fees on its public pages.

Already hold the PMP? Read Do I Need PMI-ACP If I Already Have a PMP? to see how the two credentials fit together. For a complete overview of the credential, see our

PMI-ACP certification guide.

A pattern shows up in the table. The exam fee is the smaller part of the bill, and training is where you have the most control over what you pay.

How Much Does the PMI-ACP Exam Cost in 2026?

Recent cost guides report the exam at $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members. That is a gap of $60, far smaller than the $230 gap on the PMP exam.

There is one important caution. PMI's public ACP page says you pay the fee after your application is accepted, and it does not list the amount. The figures above come from training providers and cost guides, and they agree with each other, but we could not confirm them on a PMI page. Check the total at checkout before you plan around it.

Be careful with older guides. Some show lower exam fees such as $348 for members and $396 for non-members, and some still describe a 28-hour training requirement. Both are out of date.

The rules that govern the fee match the other PMI exams:

• You pay after PMI accepts your application, not when you submit it.
• You can attempt the exam up to three times within one year.
• The fee covers one attempt. A failed attempt means paying a retake fee.

The PMI-ACP exam has 120 multiple-choice questions and runs 180 minutes, with one 10-minute break. You can sit it at a Pearson VUE test center or online.

Is PMI Membership Worth It for the PMI-ACP?

This is where the ACP differs sharply from the PMP. On the PMP, the member discount is large enough to cover membership. On the ACP, it usually is not.

Membership prices are not on PMI's public pages. Recent guides report between about $139 and $164 a year, plus a one-time $10 application fee. We use that range below and recommend you confirm your exact price at checkout.

Exam fee gap            = 495 - 435 = $60
First-year membership   = 139 + 10 = $149   to   164 + 10 = $174
Net result              = 60 - 149 = -$89    to   60 - 174 = -$114
Joining only for the ACP discount costs you $89 to $114 more

So if the ACP exam is the only reason to join, you pay more with membership than without it.

When membership does pay off

Membership can make sense if you take the PMP in the same period, because the PMP exam fee gap is $230.

PMP gap + ACP gap       = 230 + 60 = $290
First-year membership   = $149 to $174
Net saving              = 290 - 174 = $116   to   290 - 149 = $141

It can also make sense if your employer or another benefit makes it worthwhile, or if you value the free digital Agile Practice Guide and PMBOK Guide that PMI says come with membership. Otherwise, a non-member price is fine for the ACP alone.

Planning both exams? Our PMP certification cost guide [add hyperlink] has the full PMP breakdown.

Are Taxes or Extra Charges Added to PMI-ACP Fees?

• Taxes. PMI does not publish tax rates on its public pages. Whether sales tax, VAT, GST or HST is added depends on your billing country and region. We could not verify the tax treatment, so we do not quote a rate. Read the total on the checkout page before you confirm.
• Currency. PMI prices in US dollars. If you pay from a Canadian account, the final amount depends on the exchange rate that day.
• Card fees. Your bank or card issuer may add a foreign-transaction fee on US-dollar charges. Check your card terms.
• Training provider taxes. A course priced in Canadian or US dollars may carry sales tax. Ask whether the quoted price includes it.

Screenshot each checkout page. If your employer reimburses you, you will need the total including tax.

What Are the PMI-ACP Eligibility Requirements, and Do They Affect Cost?

Yes, indirectly. Eligibility decides whether you must buy training and what you must document. According to PMI's ACP page, you need:

• A high school diploma or international equivalent.
• 21 hours of formal agile training from a PMI-authorized prep course, an Authorized Training Partner course or a third-party course.
• One of four experience routes: two years of agile experience in the past five years; a GAC-accredited degree plus one year of agile experience; a third-party agile certification plus one year of agile experience; or holding the PMP.

The training requirement is the one with a price tag. At 21 hours, it is two-thirds the length of the PMP's 35 hours, which is one reason ACP training is usually cheaper.

How Much Does PMI-ACP Training Cost?

You need 21 hours of formal agile training before you apply. Providers set the price, and it varies widely. Reported ranges run from about $200 for a self-paced course to $2,500 or more for instructor-led training.

These are provider prices and not set by PMI. They move over time, and premium or corporate programs can cost more. Dividing by 21 gives a cost per training hour, a simple way to compare quotes of different sizes.

Why the price varies so much

Reviews deserve a plain explanation. A provider with hundreds of genuine reviews on an independent platform such as Trustpilot has earned them across many cohorts of real students. Look for volume, recent dates, a mix of ratings and detailed comments about the instructor and the support. Be cautious when reviews appear only on the provider's own website. A higher price does not guarantee you will pass, and PMI advises caution with providers that guarantee a pass.

How to compare two quotes fairly

Provider A: self-paced, $300, no practice exam
   add a $100 practice set  ->  $300 + $100 = $400
Provider B: live ATP course, $900, practice exams and application help included
   $900
Real difference = 900 - 400 = $500, for a live instructor, application help and ATP status

The example is illustrative, but the method is general. Add what you would have to buy separately, then judge whether the extra is worth it.

• Check ATP status. Look for the PMI ATP badge and verify it in PMI's directory.
• Ask who teaches. The instructor should be named and experienced in agile.
• Ask when the content was last updated. It should reflect the current 4-domain PMI-ACP outline.
• Confirm the hours. It should deliver at least 21 hours of formal agile training with a completion record.
• Read the refund terms. A guarantee is only as good as its conditions.
• Read genuine reviews. Check Trustpilot or a similar independent platform.

Where a premium ATP course fits

Our PMI-ACP training course sits at the premium end of this spectrum on purpose. Gold Standard Certifications is a PMI Authorized Training Partner, and students rate us 4.8 (Excellent) on Trustpilot across 900+ reviews. Please check our website for the current price, hours, format and what is included.

How Much Do PMI-ACP Study Materials Cost?

Many courses include practice questions. If yours does, do not pay for a second set until you finish the first.

How Much Does PMI-ACP Renewal Cost?

To keep the PMI-ACP active, you need 30 professional development units (PDUs) in each three-year cycle. We did not find a reliable published renewal fee, so we do not quote one. PMI states that renewal pricing depends on membership status and region, so your dashboard shows the exact amount.

PDUs can often be earned at little or no cost through free webinars, volunteering and learning from work. Budget for the fee and treat paid PDU courses as optional.

Hidden Costs Most Guides Leave Out

• Time off work. A live course takes several sessions, and exam day takes about half a day with check-in.
• Test-center travel. Online proctoring avoids it but needs a quiet room and a working setup.
• Application support. Optional third-party application review services exist, but you do not need one if your course includes application help.
• A second attempt. PMI allows three attempts in a year, and a retake carries its own fee. Plan for the possibility.

What Is the Total PMI-ACP Cost? Sample Budgets

These use the reported ranges above and assume you take the exam as a non-member, which is the lower-cost option for the ACP alone. Your total will land inside the range, and premium programs can push it higher.

Lean low   = 495 + 200 + 50  = 745
Lean high  = 495 + 600 + 150 = 1,245
Live low   = 495 + 800 + 0   = 1,295
Live high  = 495 + 2500 + 150 = 3,145

Now compare the same budgets with membership added.

Member exam fee + first-year membership = 435 + 149 = 584  to  435 + 174 = 609
Non-member exam fee                      = 495
Joining adds $89 to $114 to either budget
Lean route as a member  = 149 + 435 + 200 + 50 = 834   to   174 + 435 + 600 + 150 = 1,359
Lean route as non-member = 745 to 1,245

The lowest all-in cost for the ACP alone is usually the non-member route, unless you are also taking the PMP.

PMI-ACP Cost vs PMP Cost: How Do They Compare?

If you are deciding between the two, read PMP vs PMI-ACP: Which Should You Get First? [add hyperlink] for the career comparison.

Is the PMI-ACP Worth the Cost?

The answer depends on your work. The PMI-ACP shows knowledge of agile approaches including Scrum, Lean and Kanban, and it is most useful to professionals who work in agile teams or lead them. PMI's Earning Power salary survey publishes its headline figures for the PMP, and we did not find a verified salary figure for the ACP, so we do not claim one.

• It makes the most sense if your employer, clients or job postings ask for agile credentials.
• It pairs naturally with the PMP if you work in hybrid environments, and the PMP counts as one of the experience routes.
• The total cost is lower than the PMP, so the barrier to entry is lower.

Before you spend, look at 10 job postings in your target role and count how many mention agile certification. That tells you more than a general salary claim.

How Can You Lower the PMI-ACP Cost? Six Ways

• Skip membership unless you are also taking the PMP, because the ACP discount does not cover it.
• Ask your employer to reimburse the exam fee or training. Get approval in writing first.
• Choose a course that bundles practice questions and a completion certificate.
• Do not pay for multiple practice subscriptions at once.
• Schedule the exam only when you score consistently well on practice exams.
• Earn renewal PDUs through free learning instead of paid courses.

Cost Mistakes to Avoid

• Trusting an old fee. Check the date on any cost guide. Some still show a 28-hour training requirement and lower exam fees.
• Joining PMI for the ACP discount alone. It costs more than it saves.
• Comparing course prices without comparing what is included. A cheaper course with no practice questions or support can cost more overall.
• Forgetting taxes and card fees. Look at the final checkout total.
• Booking too early. A retake costs more than extra study time.

FAQ

How much does the PMI-ACP cost in 2026?

The exam fee is reported at $435 for PMI members and $495 for non-members. Adding the required 21 hours of agile training and some practice questions, most candidates spend roughly $745 to $3,150, depending mainly on how they take the training. Confirm the exam fee at PMI checkout before you pay.

What is the PMI-ACP exam fee in 2026?

Several 2026 cost guides report $435 for members and $495 for non-members. PMI's public ACP page does not list the fee and says you pay after your application is accepted, so treat these as reported figures and check the amount at checkout.

Is PMI membership worth it for the PMI-ACP?

Usually not on its own. The member discount is only about $60, while membership costs roughly $149 to $174 in the first year including the application fee. It can pay off if you also take the PMP in the same period, because the PMP exam fee gap is $230.

How much is the PMI-ACP retake fee?

We could not find a retake fee published on PMI's public pages, and we did not find a reliable figure from other sources, so we do not quote one. PMI allows up to three attempts within one year of approval. Check your PMI dashboard or the handbook for the current retake price.

How many training hours do I need for the PMI-ACP?

21 hours of formal agile training, according to PMI's ACP page. Older articles that say 28 hours describe the previous requirement.

How much does PMI-ACP training cost?

Training providers report roughly $200 to $600 for self-paced courses and roughly $800 to $2,500 for instructor-led courses from authorized partners. These are provider prices, not set by PMI, and premium programs can cost more.

Do I need experience to take the PMI-ACP?

Yes. PMI lists four routes: two years of agile experience in the past five years; a degree from a GAC-accredited program plus one year of agile experience; a third-party agile certification plus one year of agile experience; or holding the PMP certification. You also need a high school diploma or equivalent.

How many questions are on the PMI-ACP exam?

120 multiple-choice questions in 180 minutes, including one 10-minute break. The exam is available at a Pearson VUE test center or online, and PMI allows up to three attempts within one year.

How much does it cost to renew the PMI-ACP?

PMI-ACP holders need 30 professional development units (PDUs) every three years. We did not find a reliable published renewal fee, so check your PMI dashboard, where the amount depends on membership status and region.

Are taxes added to PMI-ACP fees?

Possibly, depending on where you are billed. PMI does not publish tax rates on its public pages. Check the total on your checkout page before you pay, and consider currency and card foreign-transaction fees if you pay from Canada.

Is the PMI-ACP cheaper than the PMP?

On the exam fee, yes by a small margin for members ($435 versus $445), and a larger margin for non-members ($495 versus $675). The training requirement is also shorter, at 21 hours versus 35 hours.

Where can I find the price of the Gold Standard Certifications PMI-ACP course?

Please check our website for the current price and upcoming batch dates, because pricing and offers change. We are a PMI Authorized Training Partner, and students rate us 4.8 (Excellent) on Trustpilot across 900+ reviews. The PMI exam fee is paid separately to PMI.

Related Reading

• Do I Need PMI-ACP If I Already Have a PMP?: how the two credentials work together
• PMI-ACP Certification Guide: an overview of the credential
• PMP Certification Cost in Canada: 2026 Fee Breakdown: if you are also planning the PMP
• PMP Certification Cost in 2026: the full PMP breakdown

Train With a PMI Authorized Training Partner

Gold Standard Certifications is a PMI Authorized Training Partner (ATP). Students rate us 4.8 (Excellent) on Trustpilot across 900+ reviews. The PMI exam fee is paid separately to PMI.

• PMI-ACP® Agile Certified Practitioner Training: check our website for the current price, batch dates and what is included

Read what students say about us on Trustpilot.